xc70 rear springs

[spudd]

I want to renew the suspension all round on my xc70, but reading in haynes manual i need special volvo spring removal tools for the back springs.
Anyone know better or why.

[VOLVOBOY]

Hi.
No special Volvo Tooling required.
All that`s needed is a pair of inside spring compressors ; the reason being that there are brake and suspension componenets in the way when trying to use outside compressors.
This is not strictly true though as i have managed to use a combination of outside compressors and some spring clips . This is a real faff though and took ages as i had to compress and adjust , compress and re-adjust both removing and installing.
Another way is to place a jack under the suspension arm , remove the inside bolt and VERY CAREFULLY lower the jack to de-compress the spring. There is not so much spring control this way but it is very do-able.

[VOLVOBOY]

Hi.
The above works on S60 and V70.
For AWD i think the spring/shock arrangement is different.
There is a very good video on youtube where no compressors are used . The shock top-mount is un-bolted along with the shock and the spring and the whole lot comes out together.

[spannermedonky]

I replaced all of my springs a few years back on my XC70.

If memory serves me right on these cars the springs come out as a complete spring / shock assembly, at least the awd vehicles with nivomat self leveling suspension do. I think it was quite straight forward except it's difficult to get the assembly back into place as the suspension needs to be pulled down quite hard, I used the technique of using a ratchet strap under the car between the two lower wishbones to pull them together and down and don't remember any issues.

The springs can then be swapeed from the assembly with spring compressors off the vehicle, this must have been fairly easy as I don't remember how I did it.

I think non self leveling awd cars are a bit different, it might just be in the top shock mounting but I'm sure other will correct me.